Scottish Executive

Drug Misuse

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8940 by Cathy Jamieson on 23 June 2004, whether it will provide a breakdown of drug offences that were (a) solved by the police, (b) prosecuted and (c) convicted in (i) 1999-00, (ii) 2000-01, (iii) 2001-02, (iv) 2002-03 and (v) 2003-04.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information on drug offences which were recorded by the police and on persons proceeded against for drug offences is given in the following tables. Statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim, and a crime may be recorded in one year and proceedings taken in a subsequent year. Charges recorded by the police may also be altered as a result of the judicial process.

  Drugs Offences Cleared up by the Police, 1999-2000 to 2003-04P

  

 Type of Offence
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04P


 Illegal importation of drugs
 7
 1
 4
 3
 2


 Production, manufacture or cultivation 
  of drugs
 106
 131
 139
 196
 251


 Supply, possession with intent to supply 
  etc. of drugs
 7,977
 8,999
 10,080
 9,772
 9,178


 Possession of drugs
 21,693
 22,525
 26,125
 30,319
 32,259


 Drugs, money laundering related offences
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Drugs, other offences
 450
 457
 282
 272
 274


 Total
 30,234
 32,113
 36,630
 40,562
 41,964



  Note:

  Data for 2003-04 are provisional.

  Persons Proceeded Against for Drug Offences1, 1999-2000 to 2002-03

  

 Type of Offence
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-022
 2002-032,3


 Total proceeded against:
  


 Illegal importation of drugs
 0
 5
 6
 5


 Production, manufacture or cultivation 
  of drugs
 93
 59
 55
 59


 Supply, possession with intent to supply 
  etc. of drugs
 2,003
 1,730
 1,768
 1,559


 Possession of drugs
 5,259
 4,549
 5,091
 4,548


 Drugs, money laundering related offences
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Drugs, other offences
 11
 6
 7
 16


 Total
 7,366
 6,349
 6,927
 6,187


 Charge proved:
  


 Illegal importation of drugs
 0
 5
 6
 5


 Production, manufacture or cultivation 
  of drugs
 77
 49
 45
 52


 Supply, possession with intent to supply 
  etc. of drugs
 1,433
 1,268
 1,292
 1,334


 Possession of drugs
 4,636
 3,946
 4,540
 4,308


 Drugs, money laundering related offences
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Drugs, other offences
 8
 5
 5
 15


 Total
 6,154
 5,273
 5,888
 5,714



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence

  2. Recording delays mean that cases where the charge was not proved may be under-stated in the totals for persons proceeded against.

  3. Provisional data.

Housing

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what action it is taking to address the shortage of affordable housing in the Highlands.

Ms Margaret Curran: I refer the member to the written answer given to question S2O-2933 on 1 July 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/search .

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average waiting period was for summary cases in each sheriff court district in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: I refer the member to the answer given to question S2W-8941 on 23 June 2004. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search .

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many crimes of indecency were reported in each of the last five years, broken down by police force area and, of these, how many were successfully prosecuted in each year.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on crimes reported to (as opposed to recorded by) the police is not available centrally. Information on crimes of indecency recorded by the police broken down by police force area is published for each year in table 4A of the relevant statistical bulletins Recorded Crime in Scotland , copies of which are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 7079, 13119, 20798, 27678 and 33018).

  The available information on persons with a charge proved in court where a crime of indecency was the main offence is given in the following table. Statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim, while a crime may be recorded in one year and proceedings taken in a subsequent year. Charges recorded by the police may also be altered as a result of the judicial process.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for a Crime of Indecency1, 1998-2002

  

 Police Force Area
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 20023


 Central
 24
 16
 26
 25
 18


 Dumfries and Galloway
 11
 8
 18
 19
 5


 Fife
 37
 57
 32
 41
 44


 Grampian
 99
 66
 38
 41
 42


 Lothian and Borders
 99
 129
 85
 94
 80


 Northern
 21
 31
 28
 37
 33


 Strathclyde
 637
 548
 385
 306
 289


 Tayside
 47
 55
 46
 52
 49


 Scotland2
 975
 910
 658
 617
 560



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes a small number of cases where force area is not known.

  3. Figures may be underestimates due to recording delays.

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many unrepresented accused persons have conducted their own trial in sheriff courts in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the following table:

  

 
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04


 Accused unrepresented at trial 
  diet - trial proceeding
 141
 108
 138
 143
 110

Justice

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will establish a single agency responsible for fire investigation.

Cathy Jamieson: The investigation of fires is currently carried out by officers of the eight fire authorities. The Fire (Scotland) Bill introduced in Parliament on 28 June 2004, if enacted, will give enhanced powers to Fire Officers, for example, to enter premises and to take and analyse samples of articles or substances. There are no current plans to create a single agency to carry out fire investigations.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children under 16 were held in adult prisons in each of the last three years and for how long they were held.

Cathy Jamieson: The figures for sentenced young people under 16 are as follows:

  


2001-02

2002-03

2003-04



1

1

5



  In each case, the individuals were held in Scottish Prison Service premises for only a few days while awaiting a place in secure accommodation.

  Over the same time period, the number of under 16-year-olds remanded on Unruly certificates and the time spent in custody is in the following table:

  

 Time in Custody
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04 
  (Prov)


 7 days and under
 11
 8
 8


 14 days and under
 2
 8
 5


 30 days and under
 1
 0
 4


 60 days and under
 1
 2
 1


 Total
 15
 18
 18



  In most cases those detained were held in Young Offenders Institutions, all of those who were placed in adult prisons remained there for a few days only.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-8361 by Cathy Jamieson on 18 June 2004, how many of the recorded rape cases were prosecuted in each police force area and, of these, in how many cases the outcome was (a) a successful prosecution, (b) not proven and (c) not guilty, in (i) 1999-00, (ii) 2000-01, (iii) 2001-02, (iv) 2002-03 and when similar figures for 2003-04 will be available.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is given in the table. It is planned to publish summary statistics for calendar year 2003 in November 2004. Statistics dealing with recorded crime and court proceedings are not directly comparable as a person may be proceeded against for more than one crime involving more than one victim, and a crime may be recorded in one year and proceedings taken in a subsequent year. Charges recorded by the police may also be altered as a result of the judicial process.

  Persons with a Charge of Rape1 Proved in Scottish Courts, by the Police Force Area, 1999-2000 to 2002-03

  

  
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-023
 2002-033,4


 Charge proved:
  


 Central
 2
 1
 0
 2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1
 2
 1
 1


 Fife
 1
 1
 5
 5


 Grampian
 5
 1
 2
 1


 Lothian and Borders
 7
 9
 11
 6


 Northern
 3
 0
 3
 4


 Strathclyde
 8
 11
 18
 13


 Tayside
 0
 3
 3
 2


 Scotland
 27
 28
 43
 34


 Charge found not proven:
  


 Central
 2
 1
 0
 2


 Dumfries and Galloway
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Fife
 2
 0
 1
 0


 Grampian
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Lothian and Borders
 2
 2
 4
 3


 Northern
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Strathclyde
 3
 3
 1
 1


 Tayside
 1
 1
 1
 0


 Scotland
 11
 7
 7
 7


 Other charge found not guilty2 
  :
  


 Central
 6
 1
 1
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Fife
 2
 1
 2
 2


 Grampian
 1
 1
 2
 1


 Lothian and Borders
 4
 3
 3
 4


 Northern
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Strathclyde
 2
 10
 3
 4


 Tayside
 1
 1
 3
 2


 Scotland
 16
 17
 15
 14



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes acquittal not guilty, plea not guilty accepted and case deserted simpliciter.

  3. Figures may be underestimates due to recording delays.

  4. Provisional data.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the number of people was with a charge proved in a sheriff court where there was a bail aggravation in each of the last five years.

Cathy Jamieson: The available information is contained in the research report Offending on bail: an analysis of the use and the impact of aggravated sentences for bail offenders which was published on 17 March 2004.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S1W-16142 by Mr Jim Wallace on 15 June 2001, what percentage of cases in each of the last five years resulted in a custodial sentence, broken down by sheriff court.

Cathy Jamieson: The information requested is given in table 7 of Costs, Sentencing Profiles and the Scottish Criminal Justice System for the years 1998 to 2002 published by the Scottish Executive. Copies of these publications are available in the Parliament’s Reference Centre (Bib. numbers 7050, 12624, 20543, 27166, 33169).

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drivers were (a) charged, (b) proceeded against and (c) had a charge proved for driving without insurance in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on persons charged by the police is not held centrally. The information available on offences proceeded against in court is given in the tables. There is no simple relationship between sheriff court and local authority areas as some sheriff courts deal with offenders from more than one local authority area.

  Offences of Driving Without Insurance Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts, by Court, 1998-2002

  

 Court
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002 
  3


 Sheriff courts:
  


 Aberdeen
 1,088
 1,102
 887
 1,129
 1,486


 Airdrie
 407
 539
 496
 535
 551


 Alloa
 102
 111
 118
 157
 212


 Arbroath
 271
 171
 217
 229
 299


 Ayr
 478
 411
 517
 466
 588


 Banff
 96
 162
 96
 148
 175


 Campbeltown
 22
 25
 22
 28
 29


 Cupar
 167
 156
 169
 163
 186


 Dingwall
 86
 83
 50
 69
 93


 Dornoch
 27
 24
 12
 17
 29


 Dumbarton
 415
 399
 447
 383
 362


 Dumfries
 398
 492
 481
 442
 525


 Dundee
 775
 732
 753
 792
 1,116


 Dunfermline
 436
 390
 466
 594
 729


 Dunoon
 73
 59
 53
 53
 62


 Duns
 33
 27
 33
 38
 44


 Edinburgh
 2,066
 1,801
 1,962
 1,861
 2,291


 Elgin
 283
 279
 201
 318
 316


 Falkirk
 400
 438
 466
 608
 736


 Forfar
 139
 133
 137
 154
 200


 Fort William
 47
 49
 20
 53
 65


 Glasgow
 2,099
 1,592
 1,287
 1,269
 1,272


 Greenock
 271
 265
 269
 220
 250


 Haddington
 178
 164
 157
 179
 248


 Hamilton
 1,202
 1,206
 1,329
 1,450
 1,541


 Inverness
 220
 243
 135
 300
 342


 Jedburgh
 61
 77
 94
 95
 105


 Kilmarnock
 586
 575
 545
 657
 610


 Kirkcaldy
 596
 530
 611
 755
 879


 Kirkcudbright
 72
 83
 68
 39
 76


 Kirkwall
 29
 45
 11
 29
 49


 Lanark
 144
 191
 194
 250
 261


 Lerwick
 27
 36
 28
 37
 43


 Linlithgow
 478
 492
 632
 729
 981


 Lochmaddy
 16
 12
 7
 16
 10


 Oban
 44
 64
 47
 35
 50


 Paisley
 642
 615
 608
 535
 598


 Peebles
 28
 15
 10
 35
 33


 Perth
 412
 361
 395
 515
 668


 Peterhead
 205
 127
 142
 162
 198


 Portree
 17
 14
 4
 26
 24


 Rothesay
 3
 6
 22
 11
 14


 Selkirk
 78
 75
 41
 69
 88


 Stirling
 236
 272
 260
 327
 417


 Stonehaven
 158
 167
 101
 160
 163


 Stornoway
 43
 53
 25
 37
 46


 Stranraer
 157
 148
 125
 182
 176


 Tain
 94
 67
 19
 81
 120


 Wick
 48
 44
 38
 36
 54


 Sub-total
 15,953
 15,122
 15,6102
 16,473
 19,410


 District and stipendiary magistrate 
  courts:
  


 Aberdeen City
 2
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Aberdeenshire
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Angus
 0
 5
 0
 1
 1


 Argyll and Bute
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 2
 0
 1
 0


 Dundee City
 0
 0
 2
 1
 2


 East Ayrshire
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 East Dunbartonshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 East Lothian
 0
 3
 0
 0
 0


 Edinburgh, City of
 7
 7
 4
 1
 1


 Falkirk
 2
 2
 2
 1
 0


 Fife
 1
 6
 2
 0
 1


 Glasgow City
 1,050
 1,051
 885
 1,504
 1,590


 Highland
 1
 1
 1
 0
 1


 Inverclyde
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Moray
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 North Ayrshire
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 North Lanarkshire
 5
 0
 1
 2
 1


 Perth and Kinross
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 Renfrewshire
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Scottish Borders
 0
 0
 1
 4
 0


 South Ayrshire
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 South Lanarkshire
 1
 0
 0
 1
 3


 Stirling
 2
 2
 1
 2
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 West Lothian
 0
 0
 2
 0
 0


 Sub-total
 1,078
 1,085
 902
 1,521
 1,602


 All courts1
 17,096
 16,251
 16,570
 18,026
 21,030



  Notes:

  1. Includes offences proceeded against in the High Court and where court type not known.

  2. Includes 803 offences where court location not known.

  3. Recording delays mean that offences which were not proved may be under-stated in the totals for offences proceeded against.

  Offences of Driving Without Insurance with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts, by Court, 1998-2002

  

  
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002


 Sheriff Courts:
  


 Aberdeen
 994
 970
 778
 1,021
 1,343


 Airdrie
 346
 472
 422
 468
 491


 Alloa
 89
 91
 110
 137
 194


 Arbroath
 229
 158
 195
 201
 262


 Ayr
 448
 373
 472
 424
 531


 Banff
 90
 157
 89
 141
 173


 Campbeltown
 21
 24
 22
 25
 25


 Cupar
 155
 144
 152
 144
 161


 Dingwall
 74
 68
 42
 65
 83


 Dornoch
 19
 23
 10
 13
 24


 Dumbarton
 356
 332
 383
 326
 316


 Dumfries
 330
 410
 387
 349
 443


 Dundee
 687
 640
 666
 701
 950


 Dunfermline
 384
 359
 416
 535
 622


 Dunoon
 68
 56
 49
 45
 56


 Duns
 31
 25
 31
 35
 39


 Edinburgh
 1,917
 1,647
 1,779
 1,744
 2,038


 Elgin
 263
 239
 172
 278
 276


 Falkirk
 373
 409
 430
 560
 660


 Forfar
 135
 121
 128
 131
 174


 Fort William
 43
 47
 13
 50
 61


 Glasgow
 1,911
 1,440
 1,153
 1,166
 1,199


 Greenock
 248
 242
 254
 209
 238


 Haddington
 161
 147
 142
 168
 223


 Hamilton
 1,069
 1,063
 1,188
 1,297
 1,379


 Inverness
 195
 209
 116
 269
 292


 Jedburgh
 58
 70
 90
 85
 96


 Kilmarnock
 555
 538
 508
 604
 550


 Kirkcaldy
 555
 495
 559
 677
 798


 Kirkcudbright
 57
 70
 51
 33
 59


 Kirkwall
 27
 42
 9
 29
 48


 Lanark
 118
 168
 171
 201
 191


 Lerwick
 25
 29
 26
 35
 36


 Linlithgow
 439
 464
 520
 668
 842


 Lochmaddy
 13
 10
 6
 15
 10


 Oban
 39
 58
 43
 32
 50


 Paisley
 605
 544
 545
 490
 551


 Peebles
 26
 14
 10
 35
 31


 Perth
 357
 309
 327
 441
 538


 Peterhead
 186
 117
 126
 145
 171


 Portree
 15
 12
 3
 24
 23


 Rothesay
 2
 5
 22
 10
 13


 Selkirk
 72
 71
 41
 65
 79


 Stirling
 210
 245
 237
 279
 385


 Stonehaven
 155
 159
 93
 155
 146


 Stornoway
 40
 44
 19
 33
 40


 Stranraer
 130
 107
 103
 146
 146


 Tain
 84
 60
 18
 72
 101


 Wick
 46
 38
 33
 32
 47


 Sub-total
 14,450
 13,535
 13,8532
 14,808
 17,204


 District and stipendiary magistrate 
  courts:
  


 Aberdeen City
 2
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Aberdeenshire
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Angus
 0
 2
 0
 1
 1


 Argyll and Bute
 2
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Dundee City
 0
 0
 1
 1
 2


 East Ayrshire
 0
 2
 0
 0
 0


 East Dunbartonshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 East Lothian
 0
 3
 0
 0
 0


 Edinburgh, City of
 7
 6
 3
 1
 1


 Falkirk
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Fife
 1
 4
 2
 0
 1


 Glasgow City
 933
 903
 769
 1,368
 1,477


 Highland
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1


 Inverclyde
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Moray
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 North Ayrshire
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 North Lanarkshire
 5
 0
 1
 2
 1


 Renfrewshire
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Scottish Borders
 0
 0
 1
 3
 0


 South Ayrshire
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 South Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 1
 3


 Stirling
 1
 1
 1
 1
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 2
 0
 0
 1
 0


 West Lothian
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Sub-total
 959
 926
 781
 1,382
 1,488


 All courts1
 15,412
 14,461
 14,645
 16,198
 18,701



  Notes:

  1. Includes offences proceeded against in the High Court and where court type not known.

  2. Includes 694 offences where court location not known.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many drivers were (a) charged, (b) proceeded against and (c) had a charge proved for driving while disqualified in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on persons charged by the police is not held centrally. The information available on offences proceeded against in court is given in the tables. There is no simple relationship between sheriff court and local authority areas as some sheriff courts deal with offenders from more than one local authority area.

  Offences of Driving while Disqualified Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts, by Court, 1998-2002

  

  
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 20023


 Sheriff courts:
  
  
  
  
  


 Aberdeen
 231
 259
 273
 283
 278


 Airdrie
 84
 97
 88
 93
 105


 Alloa
 17
 17
 27
 25
 34


 Arbroath
 77
 34
 23
 37
 50


 Ayr
 84
 68
 94
 87
 102


 Banff
 4
 19
 15
 13
 21


 Campbeltown
 6
 3
 3
 2
 1


 Cupar
 21
 22
 24
 28
 22


 Dingwall
 13
 19
 12
 2
 18


 Dornoch
 4
 6
 4
 7
 2


 Dumbarton
 74
 76
 70
 95
 54


 Dumfries
 72
 66
 101
 100
 86


 Dundee
 186
 174
 176
 200
 262


 Dunfermline
 95
 90
 106
 122
 147


 Dunoon
 14
 6
 5
 6
 7


 Duns
 3
 8
 4
 1
 5


 Edinburgh
 436
 427
 461
 428
 566


 Elgin
 44
 62
 75
 62
 71


 Falkirk
 97
 83
 86
 101
 131


 Forfar
 21
 23
 20
 30
 36


 Fort William
 5
 10
 4
 11
 11


 Glasgow
 771
 712
 699
 648
 613


 Greenock
 62
 49
 31
 39
 39


 Haddington
 26
 28
 37
 41
 46


 Hamilton
 216
 208
 282
 214
 275


 Inverness
 30
 29
 50
 56
 64


 Jedburgh
 16
 21
 23
 18
 21


 Kilmarnock
 150
 143
 142
 145
 156


 Kirkcaldy
 116
 94
 137
 152
 154


 Kirkcudbright
 10
 11
 6
 6
 6


 Kirkwall
 3
 13
 3
 2
 2


 Lanark
 29
 31
 34
 45
 43


 Lerwick
 4
 5
 7
 3
 0


 Linlithgow
 85
 93
 90
 149
 144


 Lochmaddy
 2
 2
 3
 4
 1


 Oban
 8
 13
 11
 5
 7


 Paisley
 198
 191
 146
 138
 176


 Peebles
 5
 6
 4
 8
 5


 Perth
 58
 67
 63
 87
 101


 Peterhead
 27
 32
 49
 36
 39


 Portree
 1
 0
 1
 4
 2


 Rothesay
 0
 1
 0
 3
 3


 Selkirk
 14
 18
 15
 12
 11


 Stirling
 48
 59
 48
 59
 84


 Stonehaven
 15
 30
 19
 24
 31


 Stornoway
 8
 9
 4
 7
 5


 Stranraer
 31
 21
 22
 29
 30


 Tain
 17
 4
 9
 14
 26


 Wick
 5
 2
 6
 5
 6


 Sub-total
 3,543
 3,461
 3,6192
 3,686
 4,099


 District and stipendiary magistrates 
  courts:
  


 Dundee City
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Fife
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Glasgow City
 6
 0
 1
 1
 33


 South Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 West Lothian
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Sub-total
 7
 2
 2
 1
 34


 All courts1
 3,554
 3,464
 3,624
 3,691
 4,136



  Notes:

  1. Includes offences proceeded against in the High Court and where court type not known.

  2. Includes seven offences where court location not known.

  3. Recording delays mean that offences which were not proved may be under-stated in the totals for offences proceeded against.

  Offences of Driving while Disqualified with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts, by Court, 1998-2002

  

 
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002


 Sheriff courts:
 


 Aberdeen
 218
 232
 247
 264
 259


 Airdrie
 76
 89
 74
 79
 91


 Alloa
 17
 17
 26
 25
 33


 Arbroath
 62
 32
 21
 35
 42


 Ayr
 80
 65
 89
 78
 98


 Banff
 3
 18
 15
 12
 21


 Campbeltown
 6
 3
 3
 2
 1


 Cupar
 20
 19
 21
 28
 20


 Dingwall
 13
 17
 10
 2
 17


 Dornoch
 3
 6
 4
 6
 2


 Dumbarton
 67
 69
 66
 84
 48


 Dumfries
 67
 61
 93
 90
 79


 Dundee
 166
 149
 149
 180
 227


 Dunfermline
 89
 85
 103
 115
 131


 Dunoon
 14
 6
 5
 6
 7


 Duns
 3
 8
 4
 1
 4


 Edinburgh
 416
 412
 450
 408
 499


 Elgin
 42
 49
 45
 53
 66


 Falkirk
 84
 79
 79
 95
 118


 Forfar
 21
 23
 19
 30
 34


 Fort William
 5
 10
 4
 11
 11


 Glasgow
 719
 659
 629
 595
 581


 Greenock
 59
 47
 29
 34
 38


 Haddington
 25
 28
 34
 41
 46


 Hamilton
 197
 189
 257
 197
 263


 Inverness
 27
 26
 40
 51
 53


 Jedburgh
 16
 20
 23
 18
 20


 Kilmarnock
 142
 139
 137
 138
 139


 Kirkcaldy
 103
 89
 120
 141
 144


 Kirkcudbright
 9
 10
 5
 6
 6


 Kirkwall
 3
 11
 2
 2
 2


 Lanark
 26
 29
 32
 40
 41


 Lerwick
 4
 4
 6
 3
 0


 Linlithgow
 84
 93
 87
 139
 136


 Lochmaddy
 2
 2
 3
 4
 1


 Oban
 7
 11
 11
 5
 7


 Paisley
 186
 167
 129
 128
 170


 Peebles
 5
 5
 4
 8
 5


 Perth
 47
 60
 55
 76
 85


 Peterhead
 23
 30
 42
 33
 33


 Portree
 1
 0
 1
 4
 2


 Rothesay
 0
 1
 0
 3
 3


 Selkirk
 14
 18
 15
 12
 11


 Stirling
 43
 57
 46
 56
 80


 Stonehaven
 15
 26
 18
 23
 29


 Stornoway
 7
 9
 4
 6
 4


 Stranraer
 30
 18
 21
 29
 28


 Tain
 17
 4
 8
 13
 25


 Wick
 4
 2
 6
 5
 5


 Sub-total
 3,287
 3,203
 3,2982
 3,414
 3,765


 District and stipendiary 
  magistrates courts:
 


 Dundee City
 0
 0
 1
 0
 0


 Fife
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Glasgow City
 6
 0
 1
 1
 33


 South Lanarkshire
 0
 0
 0
 0
 1


 West Lothian
 1
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Sub-total
 7
 2
 2
 1
 34


 All courts1
 3,297
 3,205
 3,303
 3,419
 3,802



  Notes:

  1. Includes offences proceeded against in the High Court and where court type not known.

  2. Includes seven offences where court location not known.

Justice

Christine Grahame (South of Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many people were (a) charged, (b) proceeded against and (c) had a charge proved for carrying knives in each of the last five years, broken down by local authority area.

Cathy Jamieson: Information on persons charged by the police is not held centrally. The information available on persons proceeded against in court is given in the tables. There is no simple relationship between sheriff court and local authority areas as some sheriff courts deal with offenders from more than one local authority area.

  Persons Proceeded Against in Scottish Courts for Having in a Public Place an Article with a Blade or Point1, by Court, 1998-2002

  

  
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 20023


 Sheriff courts:
  


 Aberdeen
 26
 23
 23
 28
 31


 Airdrie
 15
 23
 30
 36
 33


 Alloa
 3
 1
 2
 5
 2


 Arbroath
 9
 4
 7
 5
 10


 Ayr
 22
 23
 34
 26
 25


 Banff
 0
 0
 1
 1
 3


 Campbeltown
 0
 0
 0
 4
 1


 Cupar
 0
 1
 1
 2
 1


 Dingwall
 1
 0
 2
 1
 0


 Dornoch
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Dumbarton
 49
 50
 43
 64
 35


 Dumfries
 7
 12
 11
 10
 13


 Dundee
 47
 45
 38
 47
 49


 Dunfermline
 8
 9
 11
 7
 8


 Dunoon
 3
 4
 5
 5
 1


 Duns
 0
 1
 1
 1
 5


 Edinburgh
 125
 109
 94
 99
 119


 Elgin
 5
 6
 5
 7
 10


 Falkirk
 15
 17
 18
 21
 21


 Forfar
 0
 3
 6
 5
 5


 Fort William
 3
 1
 1
 3
 4


 Glasgow
 430
 513
 546
 686
 511


 Greenock
 42
 48
 60
 48
 76


 Haddington
 9
 7
 2
 9
 15


 Hamilton
 77
 113
 147
 135
 126


 Inverness
 13
 7
 1
 6
 12


 Jedburgh
 2
 3
 2
 6
 6


 Kilmarnock
 73
 72
 78
 75
 61


 Kirkcaldy
 6
 9
 8
 25
 28


 Kirkcudbright
 0
 0
 7
 3
 5


 Kirkwall
 0
 4
 0
 2
 0


 Lanark
 8
 12
 13
 17
 10


 Lerwick
 1
 1
 1
 1
 2


 Linlithgow
 16
 10
 16
 17
 27


 Lochmaddy
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Oban
 2
 4
 3
 3
 2


 Paisley
 112
 93
 100
 103
 76


 Peebles
 2
 0
 0
 0
 2


 Perth
 12
 5
 12
 18
 15


 Peterhead
 11
 4
 2
 4
 8


 Rothesay
 2
 0
 1
 7
 3


 Selkirk
 8
 5
 4
 5
 6


 Stirling
 7
 8
 4
 11
 6


 Stonehaven
 1
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Stornoway
 3
 1
 1
 0
 2


 Stranraer
 7
 11
 0
 3
 3


 Tain
 0
 4
 3
 1
 1


 Wick
 1
 1
 2
 3
 2


 Sub-total
 1,183
 1,268
 1,346
 1,567
 1,381


 District and stipendiary magistrates 
  courts:
  


 Aberdeen City
 3
 0
 0
 2
 1


 Aberdeenshire
 1
 2
 1
 9
 4


 Argyll and Bute
 1
 1
 0
 2
 0


 Clackmannanshire
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Dumfries and Galloway
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Dundee City
 1
 3
 0
 0
 0


 East Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0


 Edinburgh, City of
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1


 Fife
 4
 2
 1
 0
 0


 Glasgow City
 3
 7
 6
 3
 8


 Highland
 1
 1
 1
 0
 1


 North Lanarkshire
 1
 3
 2
 0
 0


 Perth and Kinross
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 Scottish Borders
 0
 1
 2
 1
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 1
 0
 3
 0
 0


 Sub-total
 17
 21
 16
 22
 15


 All courts2
 1,201
 1,291
 1,364
 1,593
 1,396



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes persons proceeded against in the High Court and where court type not known.

  3. Recording delays mean that cases where the charges were not proved may be under-stated in the totals for persons proceeded against.

  Persons with a Charge Proved in Scottish Courts for having in a Public Place an Article with a Blade or Point1, by Court, 1998-2002

  

  
 1998
 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002


 Sheriff courts:
  


 Aberdeen
 25
 20
 19
 23
 29


 Airdrie
 13
 14
 22
 25
 27


 Alloa
 3
 0
 1
 5
 2


 Arbroath
 9
 2
 5
 5
 8


 Ayr
 16
 18
 27
 21
 23


 Banff
 0
 0
 1
 1
 2


 Campbeltown
 0
 0
 0
 3
 1


 Cupar
 0
 1
 1
 2
 1


 Dingwall
 1
 0
 1
 1
 0


 Dornoch
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Dumbarton
 39
 37
 32
 38
 30


 Dumfries
 5
 10
 10
 9
 12


 Dundee
 32
 36
 33
 38
 42


 Dunfermline
 6
 9
 8
 6
 7


 Dunoon
 2
 2
 3
 5
 1


 Duns
 0
 1
 1
 1
 4


 Edinburgh
 120
 96
 86
 88
 106


 Elgin
 5
 5
 5
 7
 8


 Falkirk
 13
 16
 18
 17
 19


 Forfar
 0
 2
 5
 5
 5


 Fort William
 2
 1
 1
 3
 3


 Glasgow
 323
 396
 433
 529
 469


 Greenock
 39
 37
 52
 43
 73


 Haddington
 9
 6
 1
 8
 14


 Hamilton
 63
 88
 119
 108
 108


 Inverness
 10
 4
 1
 5
 12


 Jedburgh
 2
 3
 2
 6
 6


 Kilmarnock
 63
 58
 65
 63
 60


 Kirkcaldy
 5
 7
 8
 22
 21


 Kirkcudbright
 0
 0
 5
 2
 5


 Kirkwall
 0
 4
 0
 2
 0


 Lanark
 7
 11
 9
 15
 8


 Lerwick
 1
 1
 1
 1
 2


 Linlithgow
 16
 9
 14
 14
 25


 Lochmaddy
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Oban
 2
 4
 3
 1
 2


 Paisley
 92
 67
 71
 78
 65


 Peebles
 1
 0
 0
 0
 2


 Perth
 6
 2
 8
 12
 12


 Peterhead
 10
 1
 1
 4
 6


 Rothesay
 1
 0
 1
 7
 3


 Selkirk
 8
 5
 4
 5
 6


 Stirling
 4
 5
 4
 11
 4


 Stonehaven
 0
 0
 0
 1
 0


 Stornoway
 3
 1
 1
 0
 2


 Stranraer
 5
 7
 0
 2
 3


 Tain
 0
 4
 3
 1
 1


 Wick
 1
 1
 2
 3
 2


 Sub-total
 962
 992
 1,087
 1,247
 1,241


 District and stipendiary magistrates 
  courts:
  


 Aberdeen City
 3
 0
 0
 2
 1


 Aberdeenshire
 1
 2
 1
 9
 4


 Argyll and Bute
 1
 1
 0
 2
 0


 Clackmannanshire
 0
 1
 0
 0
 0


 Dundee City
 1
 0
 0
 0
 0


 East Lothian
 0
 0
 0
 2
 0


 Edinburgh, City of
 0
 0
 0
 2
 1


 Fife
 3
 2
 1
 0
 0


 Glasgow City
 1
 6
 4
 3
 8


 Highland
 1
 0
 1
 0
 1


 North Lanarkshire
 1
 2
 2
 0
 0


 Scottish Borders
 0
 1
 2
 1
 0


 West Dunbartonshire
 1
 0
 3
 0
 0


 Sub-total
 13
 15
 14
 21
 15


 All courts2
 976
 1,008
 1,101
 1,270
 1,256



  Notes:

  1. Where main offence.

  2. Includes persons proceeded against in the High Court and where court type not known.

Maternity Services

Mr Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will ensure that maintenance of the status quo will be one of the options in NHS Highland’s consultation on the future of maternity services in Caithness and north-west Sutherland.

Malcolm Chisholm: I understand that NHS Highland will consider the options on 2 August. Ministers will give a view at the end of the process.

Population

Bristow Muldoon (Livingston) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what the population was in (a) West Lothian, (b) City of Edinburgh, (c) Midlothian and (d) East Lothian local authority area in each year since 1999.

Hugh Henry: The Registrar General’s mid-year population estimates show the population of these local authority areas since 1999 to be:

  

 Council
 Year


 1999
 2000
 2001
 2002
 2003


 East Lothian
 89,110
 89,910
 90,180
 90,750
 91,090


 Edinburgh, City
 447,190
 448,430
 449,020
 448,080
 448,370


 Midlothian
 80,630
 81,110
 80,950
 80,500
 79,710


 West Lothian
 154,760
 157,050
 159,030
 159,960
 161,020

Science

Richard Baker (North East Scotland) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive how it intends to secure the long-term future of the Scottish Science Centres.

Mr Jim Wallace: The Executive recognises that science centres are valuable assets in helping to create a more enterprising, pro-science country. Science and innovation are two of Scotland’s key strengths, vital ingredients for economic growth and to achieve the aims of Smart Successful Scotland. Following the Executive’s review of the funding of science centres, we have agreed to contribute up to £5.1 million to a support package for the centres in Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Dundee and Glasgow until the end of 2005-06. Scottish Enterprise have agreed to provide a further £1.9 million for the Glasgow Science Centre in 2004-05, and the Millennium Commission is also considering its contributions to this package. Funding for years beyond 2005-06 will be considered in the course of the Executive’s Spending Review. As part of the current package, the centres have agreed to undertake a number of business improvements, including reducing costs, greater collaborative working, sharing of exhibition material and development of their involvement with school education. The Executive’s funding package for science centres will only be available to the existing four main science centres.

  The consultancy report on which the review was based also concluded that the Big Idea at Irvine, which had been held in receivership by the Millennium Commission while this review was being carried out, should not be re-opened. The report found that the costs of maintaining the centre did not represent good value for money in terms of the forecast likely numbers of visitors, and after careful consideration, ministers have, with regret, accepted this conclusion. Scottish Enterprise Ayrshire and North Ayrshire Council are considering future uses of the site with the owners of the surrounding land, with the aim of ensuring that it is put to best use for the local economy.